Introduction

This guide is intended for Green Mountain Club (GMC) Volunteers and Trail Adopters blazing or reblazing their trails. This work is heavily influenced by Dave Hardy's original essay, "Blazing 101." Dave served as the GMC’s Director of Trail Programs from the mid-90’s until 2017 and was critically important to the many successes of the GMC and the Long Trail over the past quarter century. Dave is widely remembered as the heart and soul of the Green Mountain Club.

When blazing, please keep in mind the following trail adopter expectations published in the Volunteer Adopter Program Handbook and the Long Trail System Management Plan:

"Trail routes should be clearly defined so they can be easily followed by hikers in spring, summer and fall. Trail blazing is an important part of this definition, but no substitute for proper trail clearing, which assures an easy route to follow. Over blazing mars the primitive character of the Long Trail System. It is important that the desire to reassure hikers they are on the trail be balanced by preserving the trail's character. Generally, no more than one blaze should be visible from any point on the trail."

Blazes need frequent refreshing to maintain visibility, proper size, and crisp edges. Expect your trail to need reblazing every 3 to 5 years or so. Before heading out it is helpful to assemble a trail kit with everything you’ll need in one place:

Spacing blazes appropriately is one of the most important responsibilities of trail adopters. More often than not, you will be re-blazing trails, so spacing decisions will be rare. Keep in mind that the most common error when blazing is using too many blazes. In most situations, hikers don't appreciate over-blazing: it suburbanizes their hike and detracts from their wilderness experience.

To avoid over blazing, determine if you can see more than one blaze from your chosen tree. If so, reconsider. Choose trees that would be most obvious to the hiker. Only work in one direction in order to have the perspective of the hiker and to avoid over or under blazing. Do not blaze both sides of the tree, as if that tree falls you've lost blazes in both directions.

When selecting trees for new blazes, select trees that will catch the eye of the hiker and is not obscured by branches or brush when approaching the blaze. All trees should be within one to three feet of the edge of the footpath. Placing blazes on the right side of the trail is preferable but not always possible. Avoid placing blazes on trees or rocks at scenic overlooks or viewpoints, instead opting for a well-placed blaze just outside of the scenic area.

The next thing you should consider is the type of tree to blaze. You want one that will sustain the paint the longest. Some of the best types of trees are pines, spruce, balsam fir, oaks, maples, and beech. Choose trees that have dark-colored bark (i.e., not white birch) if possible, which will make blazes more visible. Avoid blazing rocks or ledges – summer vegetation, fallen leaves, and snow easily obscure them.

Hikers don’t always need to see a blaze. Blazes can be a few minutes apart, especially in wilderness areas and places where the treadway is obvious such as through tight conifer stands. However, in open northern hardwood forests the treadway is less obvious and you may need more blazes.

Once you’ve chosen a tree, it’s time to get ready for blazing. Scrape furrowed bark like ash or sugar maple until smooth, but don’t go too deep. If you reach the green part of the bark, the injured tree will “bleed” sap into your blaze. Prepare the tree by scraping an area 2" x 6" for the blaze at eye level or slightly higher.

Avoid blazing dead trees; they’re likely to fall over eventually. The most common thing trail volunteers will be doing is replacing old blazes - be sure to scrape off all loose paint. Before setting to work, remember to look up and ensure the area is safe from falling limbs. Ensure the blaze you are re-blazing is a proper blaze and has a clear line of sight from the direction of travel.

For painting blazes use exterior latex paint. One pint can paint up to 5 miles one way. The Long Trail is blazed in LT/AT White Blaze (True Value) while the side trails are blazed in LT Blue Blaze Paint (True Value). The size of the blaze should be 2" x 6" inches and have crisp, neat edges to help hikers easily notice the blaze among snow or foliage. Conveniently, a dollar bill is very close to 2" x 6", and you may choose to notch your brush for lengths and carry a blaze stencil.

From the Long Trail System Management Plan:

"The LT/AT and LT will be blazed in white, and side trails in blue. Blazing will comply with the latest editions of the GMC Trail and Shelter Maintenance Manual, the ATC's Appalachian Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance, and the standards of the appropriate management partners. Exceptions to these standards must be approved by the Trail Management Committee, after consultation with the appropriate partners.”

When There Are No Trees To Paint:

In select situations, it is acceptable to place a 4x4 pressure treated post with a blaze on the post. This would only be applicable in places such as the open areas on the Appalachian Trail east of Maine Junction or on long walks through the Winooski or Lamoille river valleys. On places such as the Smuggler’s Notch Boardwalk, road walks or on ski trails, the hiker intuition will largely guide them to their destination. Blazes should be clearly placed at the beginning and end of the abnormal trail section and it may be appropriate to have one or two “reassurance” blazes in those sections.

What To Do In A Birch Glade:

Many areas of the Long Trail pass through open birch glades. Painting birch trees is acceptable and must be done in these areas, but adopters should take note they will have to be maintained more often. If your trail travels through an open birch glad the best thing to do is blaze often and maintain annually while also ensuring the treadway itself is clear of grasses, brush and easy to follow.

Wilderness Area Considerations:

The Long Trail/Appalachian Trail runs through six federal Wilderness areas in Vermont: Glastenbury Wilderness; Lye Brook Wilderness; Big Branch Wilderness; Peru Peak Wilderness; Joseph Battell Wilderness; and Breadloaf Wilderness. As stated in the GMC Trail Adopter's Guide, when working in Wilderness areas, "Paint blazes should be used sparingly, reserved for trail intersections, unclear turns, or areas where the trail is otherwise unidentifiable; no more than one blaze should been seen at a time."

For questions or comments on Blazing 101, please contact the experts at Woodstock Union High School. They'd love to hear from you!

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